Kids missing from group homes a common thread in Milwaukee sex trafficking

Reporter Ashley Luthern explains how a new study was able to quantify the number of people who were victims of sex trafficking in Milwaukee during a four-year period.

Students created this artwork as part of ARTREACH, a human trafficking awareness and prevention program. The work was displayed at the Central Library in downtown Milwaukee during February.(Photo: Michael Sears / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Many sex trafficking victims in Milwaukee have a history of being reported missing from group homes.

Most have experienced significant trauma — such as witnessing or being the victims of sexual assault, domestic violence or child abuse — by age 13 or younger, according to Milwaukee Police Department reports.

And far more needs to be done to prevent vulnerable children and young adults from being exploited by sex traffickers.

Those were among the findings of a new report released Thursday by a group that includes the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission, the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Police Department.

The latest report expands on another released in March that found 340 young adults and children were victims of sex trafficking in Milwaukee between Jan. 1, 2013, and Dec. 31, 2016.

It found that 59% of victims had a history of being reported missing to Milwaukee police at least once, and, of those, 59% were reported from out of home care one or more times.

"These findings are a call to immediate action to protect at-risk children, especially in group homes, from being recruited into sex trafficking," said Eric Thompson, an attorney for Children’s Rights.

Thompson called on the state Department of Children and Families to bring Milwaukee's group homes into compliance as soon as possible "and combat this assault on our kids."

Milwaukee has gained a reputation as a hub for sex trafficking after a series of high-profile prosecutions of pimps and rankings in nationwide FBI human trafficking stings.

Court cases here have revealed generations of traffickers, some of whom participated in "pimp roundtables" during which they discussed business practices of the illegal trade.

This report found children reported missing from group homes are especially vulnerable to becoming victims of trafficking.

More than half of the victims (59%) experienced a significant trauma detailed in a Milwaukee police report by the time they had reached 13 years old.

These numbers still likely provide an underestimate because data was limited, coming mainly from Milwaukee police incident reports and because sex trafficking, like domestic violence and sexual assault, is a frequently underreported crime.

Recommendations in the report include:

Increasing in-person meetings between caseworkers and youth in the child welfare system.

Considering safety concerns when deciding placement of victims of sex trafficking, as it may be safer to place them far away from where they were exploited.

Finding alternatives to group homes.

Imposing penalties on group homes that don't comply with state standards, such as reporting a child missing within eight hours to law enforcement and 24 hours to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Group homes are also supposed to report when a juvenile returns and if they were trafficked.

Improving training for, and communication between, group homes and law enforcement.

Limiting the number of sex-trafficked youth placed in a single group home.

Conducting an independent audit of state policies and practices around group homes.

Working with parents of at-risk youth.

Training school staff to identify victims of trafficking.

"Sex trafficking is a serious issue that impacts all segments of our society," Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales said in a statement. "Reports like this help us better understand the challenges of this crime and develop strategies to identify victims, investigate the crime, and connect them to resources.

Unaccompanied homeless youth, including those who have run away from foster homes, group homes and shelters, are extremely vulnerable to sex traffickers and need additional help.

Mallory O'Brien, the director of the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission, said she hoped the report would further "our understanding of sex trafficking in Milwaukee so we are in a better position to respond and prevent it."

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IndyStar columnist Tim Swarens spent more than a year investigating a lucrative business where abused children are bought and sold.
USA TODAY